Mixed up in the transition from home to childcare is likely to be some level of anxiety, for parents and children. Often, when children start a childcare setting, they are building new relationships away from their family and closest caregivers, for the first time.
We know that healthy development depends on the quality and reliability of a young child’s relationships with the important people in their life, both within and outside the family. Even the development of a child’s brain architecture depends on the establishment of these relationships.[1]
A relationship-based approach to childcare using a key person is one that is founded on the principle that the childcare provider builds strong, positive relationships with children and their families.
This will support children to thrive. Familiarity, attachments and predictability support children’s wellbeing and provide a secure base from which to explore new environments and experiences.
There are two pillars of relationship-based care:
Primary caregiving
This is based upon the principle that one adult in a childcare setting is designated to be the key contact for a small group of children – they are these children’s key person. This enables the adult to build a close responsive relationship with each child and their family.
Continuity of care
This focuses on the importance of a child having a bond with their key person over a sustained period of time. This means that children will be able to choose to be with the same caregiver, rather than moving through different staff during the day or as they grow older.[2]
Not all children will want to spend all day with their key person, they might enjoy getting to know other staff or joining activities which interest them with someone else, but having a key person gives you and your child the confidence to know there is someone available who know them well if they do feel they need that support.
In England, all children must be assigned a key person when they start at a childcare setting.
The key person will build a relationship with you all as the basis for helping a child and family to settle and for working together to make other key decisions about a child’s care and learning.
This could involve, for example, seeking out information from caregivers, such as their child's likes and dislikes, their interests, their important relationships and their familiar routines. This wealth of knowledge will allow the key person to build their own model of care linked to the home routine and experience, offering a child elements of familiarity and consistency through this period of change.
The key person helps a child to feel known, understood, cared about, and safe. Having responsive and supportive adults around can help children learn to process their feelings and cope with the everyday challenges of a new childcare environment.
This will look different for every child, but the relationship is there to support and nurture your whole family
Initially, the key person may spend a large proportion of their time with a child who is settling, introducing them to the new environment by staying close, playing alongside and exploring together. When this comfort and care is offered, the child will gradually begin to feel safe, and this will allow them to begin to engage and explore the world around them and build other relationships with children and staff members.
This settling process is a journey, and the time it takes is individual to each child. As independence grows, they may still use their key person as a secure base, returning to them for physical check-ins, such as a cuddle or a hand to hold and for visual check-ins and reassurance, such as a wave or smile and nod from across the room.
Young children can benefit significantly from secure relationships with multiple caregivers (within or outside the family), while their attachments to their parents remain primary and central
Parents may also gain peace of mind and feel relieved that they can share the pleasures and stresses of being a parent with someone else who knows, understands and appreciates their child.
If you’re thinking about starting childcare, or changing the kind you use, and you're feeling dizzy looking at the different options available in the UK you can see our roundup of the choices in our article 'What are the different types of childcare available to you?'
We also have advice on how to get some support with the financial side of childcare for people living in the UK; find out more about the Tax Free Childcare scheme here and funded childcare hours here.
References
[1] 3. Dunn, J. (1993). Young children’s close relationships: Beyond attachment. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications.
[2] Southwest Human Development. (2016). Meet your child's needs with relationship based childcare. Available: https://www.swhd.org/meet-your-childs-needs-with-relationship-based-care/.